Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic ended speculation yesterday that he might take over the captaincy of Croatia's Davis Cup team.

"I've said it a hundred times and don't know how many more times I have to repeat it. I will definitely not be the coach," he told a news conference unveiling a new ATP tournament in Zagreb.

Ivanisevic, 34, had been tipped to succeed coach Niki Pilic who guided Croatia to their first Davis Cup title in December.

Pilic resigned this month, forcing number one player Ivan Ljubicic to become a playing captain in the first round tie against Austria in February.

Ljubicic, who clinched a place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday, had said this was a temporary solution and talks with Ivanisevic would continue.

o David Ferrer will lead Spain in next month's Davis Cup World Group tie against Belarus after Rafael Nadal and Juan Carlos Ferrero were left out by new captain Emilio Sanchez Vicario. Nadal has been left out because he is recovering from a foot injury. Ferrero sustained a stomach injury at the Australian Open.

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